Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has granted interstate transmission licence to a special purpose vehicle (SPV) of Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) for a set of interstate transmission system (ISTS) components, to be developed under the regulated tariff mechanism (RTM) route, in Rajasthan.
In a very recent order CERC has granted transmission licence to Powergrid Bikaner Transmission System Ltd (PBTSL), a wholly-owned subsidiary (project SPV) of PGCIL, for developing additional transmission system components, under the RTM route.
PBTSL is already associated with an ISTS scheme known as “Transmission System Strengthening Scheme for evacuation of power from Solar Energy Zones in Rajasthan (8.1 GW) under Phase II-Part F,” which it had won under the tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB) mechanism.
The additional RTM components covered by the latest CERC licence are:
- Implementation of 220kV line bay at 400/220kV Bikaner-II PS for interconnection of the solar project (NHPC Ltd)
- Implementation of two 220kV line bays at 400/220 kV Bikaner-II PS for interconnection of RE power park of ALF Solar Amarsar Pvt Ltd
- Transmission system for evacuation of power from the Rajasthan REZ Ph-IV (Part-1) (Bikaner Complex) – Part-E
- Augmentation of transformation capacity at 400/220 kV Bikaner-II PS by 400/220kV, 1×500 MVA ICT (3rd)
The total estimated cost of the above-mentioned components is Rs.465 crore.
Second set of RTM projects
It may be noted that CERC, in November 2022, granted licence to PBSTL to develop the following additional components, under the RTM route:
- Implementation of 220kV bays for RE generators and 400/220kV ICTs at Bikaner-II PS
- Implementation of one 400kV line bay at 400/220 kV Bikaner-II PS for interconnection of 1,000 mw solar project of SJVN Ltd
- Implementation of two 220kV line bays at 400/220kV Bikaner-II PS for interconnection of solar projects of ACME Solar Holdings Pvt Ltd and Prerak Greentech Pvt Ltd.
These components are understood to be currently under construction. The new licence discussed in this story therefore refers to a fresh set of elements also to be developed under the RTM mode.
Original TBCB project
It may be mentioned that the original TBCB project of Powergrid Bikaner Transmission System Ltd (PBTSL), officially termed as “Transmission System Strengthening Scheme for evacuation of power from Solar Energy Zones in Rajasthan (8.1 GW) under Phase II-Part F,” was commissioned in July 2023 and is currently operational. The transmission scheme with an estimated outlay of Rs.1,341 crore, mainly entailed setting up of the 400kV double-circuit Bikaner II – Khetri line (275 km), the 400kV double-circuit Khetri-Bhiwadi line (125.6 km) and the new 400/220kV Bikaner II substation.
Overall objective
The original TBCB project and the new RTM components of PBTSL are part of an overarching scheme that envisages interstate evacuation of 8.1 GW of solar energy from Rajasthan, under Phase II, arising from Bhadla (1.05 GW), Fatehgarh (2.2 GW), Ramgarh (1.9 GW) and Bikaner (2.95 GW).
Also read: PGCIL Commissions NERSS-III Project In Northeast
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